This is Tugba. I have been studying architecture for quite some time. (I may end our relationship though:) While I started university, I also started learning cello. Since then, I try to play cello as much as possible.

During my bachelor's last year, I enrolled in Erasmus programme in Italy. It was a 11months period full of several experiences and travels. I started doing couchsurfing at that period.

After the bachelor, I did my master of architecture. In that period, I did a bit of rowing, which was one of the things I came across in my Erasmus period. I also joined to my school's cycling club and did cycling tours with my friends around the south coast of Turkey.

Now, I am doing a PhD and questioning the life mostly.

Although it was a very last minute thing, I enrolled in another Erasmus programme in Glasgow. I didn't know that I would go there till I got the visa. Then I bought the ticket and experienced a very non-stereotyped Erasmus including too much study. I do not regret it though. I met special people and I learnt a bit of Scottish traditional dance called Ceilidh, which was a great way of enjoying myself on Saturday evenings.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I participated in Couchsurfing with Caner's advice almost six years ago.

Interests

As I started university, I also started discovering myself. Learning cello, Go, Capoeira (I didn't continue though), cycling (yes, I did learn cycling when I was sophomore), piano (very little improvement), rowing, photography, and cooking have been the things I came across during my studies in the university. I still continue doing/learning some of these, but some such as playing Go or doing Capoeira were what I left in my preparation year.

I can truely say that I have been fed from music. As I mentioned, I started learning cello when I started university. Although I still have many things to learn and improve, I have been enjoying playing cello for some time.

Other than music, I do like to travel and enjoy the nature varying all over the world. Although I travelled alone many times, I preffered traveling with a few friends. My best travels were, indeed, the ones I did with my friends.

I may consider myself as an introvert although I look like a very extrovert one. So, I can do many things at home alone such as cooking, baking, handcrafting, recycling, reading, and growing plants. Yet, I also discovered my extrovert part, who fell for dancing. After learning a bit of dancing Ceilidh, I figured out that my feet started to move according to rhythm.

• arts
• writing
• books
• architecture
• diy
• dancing
• cooking
• chocolate
• coffee
• baking
• walking
• reading
• traveling
• music
• cycling
• dance
• lindy hop

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: I have to admit that I do not have a very specific taste of music. While I was in high school, I was listening some rock/metal bands including Apocalyptica and this was somehow how I met cello. Though, after meeting cello, I started listening some classical music especially from Baroque and Classical period. For a cello player, listening (and later playing) Bach's Unaccompanied Cello Suites is a must. I listened all of them from Mstislav Rostropovich for the first time. But throughout the years, I figured out that Pablo Casal's and Paul Tortelier's way of playing are my favourite. For sure, a cello player may also talk about Jacqueline du Pré playing Elgar's Op. 85 or Beethoven's Cello Sonatas. After talking a bit of classical music, you may find me listening Ezginin Günlügü, Incesaz, The Beatles, Sigur Rós, still a bit of Jethro Tull and Blackmore's Night, may sound strange but even Turkish Classical Music. Yes, I told you that I don't have a specific taste.

Movies: My taste for movies also varies. Once I was mostly watching movies telling historical stories. I was a very big fan of Jane Austen at a period. I was reading her novels and watching the movies/series about those books. It might be mostly because I envied those times that they went for ballroom dancing. I might find myself in a situation like Gil Pender from "Midnight in Paris". I sometimes watch dramas such as Dead Poets Society and I must confess that I do like to watch romantic comedies. You may not believe but movies including One Day, The Holiday, About Time can make me think about life mostly. Apart from these, "Back to the Future" is definetely one of my favourite series.

Books: I actually do like to read books. Yet, for the past couple of years, I have been reading books mostly related to architecture, which may not be considered as "reading books". Yet, I shall say "The Little Prince" is one of my favourites. I once started a collection from various languages and some of my friends helped me to enlarge this collection. For now, I have The Little Prince in nine different languages. But, I stopped collecting. It is enough I suppose:) Other than this, I do like the book called "Madonna in a Fur Coat" from a Turkish author Sabahattin Ali. This was a birthday gift from my brother when I was in Italy. It was the very first book I read by noting most of the pages. A few years ago, I read it again and it was still one of my favourites.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I made a road trip with a friend from Chile and another friend from Ecuador around the coasts of Portugal. (2013)

I played cello in public areas in Italy and prepared a video out of it. (2013)

I made a cycling tour with three other friends around south coasts of Turkey. (2014)

I played cello in a wedding ceremony and in my friend's solemnization of marriage. (2017)

I sang a Turkish song called "Sigaramin Dumanina Sarsam Saklasam Seni" in a "Christmas dinner" although my throat was aching and my voice was a bit weird. (2017)

Teach, Learn, Share

I can talk about music, teach some basic stuff in cello, but I have to mention that a couple of hours cannot make you "play" a piece. Even holding a bow needs practise.

I can teach how to make some traditional Turkish food including "karniyarik", some cookies and/or cakes. I like to prepare breakfast mostly, which also includes some baking skills. :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Italy, Scotland, Turkey

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